WD Caviar RE 320GB installation probs

buckeejit · 27 Sep 2006 at 17:43

I got this drive today and am trying to set it up as a master so I can install Win XP on it. the computer's not recognising it. when I tried to set it up as a slave, it came up: Primary Slave Hard Disk Error.

Anyone any ideas?

smids · 27 Sep 2006 at 18:12

IDE or SATA (sounds like IDE to me, but is it SATA running in emulated IDE mode?)?

Could be a dead drive, or jumper/IDE cable fault. I'll need more info to know.

buckeejit · 27 Sep 2006 at 18:15

it's SATA II.

smids · 27 Sep 2006 at 18:17

Motherboard?

buckeejit · 27 Sep 2006 at 18:18

TriGem PTGD1-LA

smids · 27 Sep 2006 at 18:22

Have you tried setting the jumper on the HDU to SATA 150MB/s mode?

buckeejit · 27 Sep 2006 at 18:24

no, I haven't. I'm sorry, but how do i do that? The drive spins up and all so could that be the problem?

smids · 27 Sep 2006 at 18:45

buckeejit said:
no, I haven't. I'm sorry, but how do i do that? The drive spins up and all so could that be the problem?

Yes, it could be the problem. Look on the back of the drive, there will be 8 pins in their own box (perhaps with a white plastic thing [a jumper]). Next, look at the top of the HDU and you'll see that there are options for the HDU using these pins and positioning the plastic jumper on the correct pins. Look for something like 'enable SATA 150MB/s only mode' and set the jumper across the pins it states. There is a diagram to show you exactly. Try this and then replace the disk and see if it works.

buckeejit · 27 Sep 2006 at 18:58

smids said:
Yes, it could be the problem. Look on the back of the drive, there will be 8 pins in their own box (perhaps with a white plastic thing [a jumper]). Next, look at the top of the HDU and you'll see that there are options for the HDU using these pins and positioning the plastic jumper on the correct pins. Look for something like 'enable SATA 150MB/s only mode' and set the jumper across the pins it states. There is a diagram to show you exactly. Try this and then replace the disk and see if it works.

I tried this and it still didn't work

smids · 27 Sep 2006 at 19:01

Hmm, test the drive using http://support.wdc.com/download/index.asp?cxml=n&pid=15&swid=2

and if it fails that, then RMA it.

buckeejit · 27 Sep 2006 at 19:26

this is gonna sound dumb but I don't have any floppy disks :rolleyes:

smids · 27 Sep 2006 at 19:40

You have any CD-R's? There is a bootable CD version too.
http://support.wdc.com/download/index.asp?cxml=n&pid=15&swid=30

Burn the .iso to disc (note: do not burn the file you download directly to disc, burn the image to disc using something like Nero, Alcohol 120%, WinIso. If you don't have any of those, use the Win Iso free trial to make the CD.

buckeejit · 27 Sep 2006 at 20:08

I tried the cd version. couldn't see the HD mentioned anywhere :rolleyes:

smids · 27 Sep 2006 at 21:05

RMA, the drive appears to be dead. (Unless you could try another SATA cable).

buckeejit · 27 Sep 2006 at 21:15

I have tried 2 SATA cables. what's RMA and would the drive be dead if it's spinning?

buckeejit · 27 Sep 2006 at 21:57

I've filled out an RMA form on OCUK (where I bought the drive from).

smids · 27 Sep 2006 at 22:00

buckeejit said:
I have tried 2 SATA cables. what's RMA and would the drive be dead if it's spinning?

RMA = Return Merchandise Authorisation i.e. a return.

It can be dead, even if spinning - the controller board sometimes fails.

buckeejit · 27 Sep 2006 at 22:47

ok. thanks for all your help smids